DAY IN SPORTS: T.O. WINS WITH LATE GRAND SLAM.

Byline: Daily News

Thousand Oaks might not yet be the best softball team in the area, but it's definitely the most exciting.

Genna Allen hit a game-winning grand slam with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning to give Thousand Oaks a 10-8 victory over El Camino Real of Woodland Hills in the semifinals of the Hart of Newhall softball tournament Saturday at Central Park in Saugus.

Thousand Oaks trailed 8-5 going into the bottom of the sixth, but rallied to load the bases for Allen's heroics.

Thousand Oaks (3-0), ranked No. 2 by the Daily News, also had to rally in its 3-2 victory over Quartz Hill in the quarterfinals. The Lancers trailed 2-1 going into the bottom of the eighth when freshman shortstop Samantha Takeshita connected for a two-run home run.

``It's fun once in a while to have those exciting games, but not twice in one day,'' said Allen, who was 2 for 3 with two home runs and six RBI in the game. ``That was pretty intense.''

Incredibly, the game against El Camino Real was almost as thrilling before Allen's grand slam.

Thousand Oaks led 5-0 going into the fifth inning when No. 7 El Camino Real rallied for four runs each in both the fifth and sixth innings. Sophomore pinch-hitter Amanda Macintosh's three-run triple in the sixth was the key hit.

In the early game, El Camino Real defeated San Fernando 2-0 on a perfect game by junior Megan Miller. The 6-foot-1 righthander struck out 19 of the 21 batters she faced.

Thousand Oaks will play No. 9 Westlake in the championship game on March 26. Westlake beat No. 6 Chaminade of West Hills 3-0 in the quarterfinals and Agoura 4-0 in the semifinals.

- Ramona Shelburne 

BOYS' SWIMMING

--Antelope Valley Invitational: Justin Wellins won the 100-yard freestyle (49.06 seconds) and 100 backstroke (57.29) to help Canyon of Canyon Country build a 41-point lead with two events remaining, allowing it to hold off a late surge by Quartz Hill to win the third annual event 413-403 at Eastside Pool in Lancaster.

Quartz Hill's Matt Smith was the only other male swimmer to win two events, taking the 100 butterfly (54.78) and 100 breaststroke (1:02.40).

GIRLS' SWIMMING

--Antelope Valley Invitational: Quartz Hill won eight of 11 events, including all three relays, to defeat Canyon of Canyon Country 403-368 in the third annual event at Eastside Pool in Lancaster.

Sarah Colvin doubled in the 100-yard butterfly (59.62 seconds) and 200 freestyle (1:59.65), and Alyssa Wilson captured the 200 individual medley (2:28.98) and 500 freestyle (5:50.13) for Quartz Hill, which also received a victory in the 50 freestyle (28.22) from Jessica Alexander.

Roxy Camuso won back-to-back races - the 100 backstroke (1:02.02) and 100 breaststroke (1:14.63) - for Canyon, which fell behind by 40 points after being disqualified in the first event, the 200 medley relay. Lancaster's Falicia Mazzella won the 100 freestyle (58.40).

- Daily News